Telephone instrument



Feb. 18, 1930. I G, BABQCK 1,747,923

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. l1 1926 2 SheeLs-Shee.v l

Feb. 18, 1930. BABCO-CK 1,747,923

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 11 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Feb. 18, k193D UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARRIsoN 13A-nectar, or SEATTLE, WASHING-Ton, AssIGNoR To AMERECAN TELE- v oHR-onoMETER oor/IPANY f waterfront Applicationr led September This .inventionrelates to `telephone instruments, more particularly of the class often termed micro telephone i.,e. acombination instrument in which the transmitter and re,-

j A5 ceiver are :mounted upon a common handle. f Heretofore, such -instruments have rbeen supported upon .a separate baseand theclosing ofthe telephone v,circuit has generally been accomplished-by a switch in said sepa- 10 rate base operatedby the `weight of ,the instrument. K Y f v p :Another formof such combinationinstrumentwithwhichI-amfamiliar has a switch in the handleoperatedcbythe graspof the hand y1,5 ofthe'user. v

. ,In accordance with the .preferred `'form of ,the present invention, Idispense lwith ythe separate stand which is frequent-ly'a nuisance. I provide a ,supporting base directlyy upon the 2.0 combination instrument togpermitit to stand y vertical withthe receiverupperiniost. Thus itl occupiesfa ininimumfof deskspacejand is inconvenient positionto be graspedvbythe ihandof the'user. n

.525, f A.Inforder to.switchautomatically the telephone circuit, ,I providel contacts rwhich are controlled by the weight of the instrument ora part thereof. g oneiformvofmy invention, I provide a `13p lost motion connection` between the upper part andi-the lower part of the instrument. .When `Vthe,instrument is picked` up *byy grasping the handle, whichinthis 'case forms aportion oflthe,upperlpart, the circuit is` switchedy to y closed condition. Upon replacingthe'instru# ment upon the table orotherwise supporting Y amusementthmrasjiower papeleta y' y cuit visswitched automatically to open con dition.'

140 It iswalsof possible to; have the circuit `controlled by. aY switchy in a suitable support or stand upon which the baseof the Vinstriunfent 1V 4sea-tswhen the instrument is not in use. `This vbase gis appreciably larger than Y the upper 15, portion of the Ainstrument and its upper' sur- Vfaceis inclined downwardly and outwardly .from the upper portion. andsupports ,the

transmitter atan inclination and` in proper s relation tothererr t0v be readlyfspokn 50; into n ,l "nstrlimentilnis surportsitselfh INSTRUMENT 11, 1926. serial No. 134,801.

upright position so as to be lreadily grasped with the receiver and'transmitter disposed in approximately the position they assume when using the instrument. By providing the base carrying the transmitter andthe upper portion extending therefromand carrying the receiver, I impart to the instrument as' a whole a substantially symmetrical and neat and attractive appearance.`

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the instrument; Fig. 2 is a side view of the instrument/partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through a modified formof the instrument;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, ofa second modified form ofthe instrument;l Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line .5*5 of Fig. 4C; vand A Fig. 6 is a fragmentary verticalsection through a third modified form of the yinstrument.

The instrument includesabase l ofapproximately frusto-spherical shape which is To. closed at its lower end by a disc 2 provided with a covering of felt 3 or other ysuitable cushioning material. A pedestal 4 is slidably connected tobase l for limited vertical movement and is provided at its upper end with an enlargement forming `a casing 5 within which is mounted a receiver Got known construction. The pedestal and the base may be of any suitablematerial but preferably are made of a synthetic resin, such as a pheg5 nolic condensation product, as this material possesses very appreciable mechanical strength while having high electrical insulating properties and being of lightweight.

By using this material I am enabled to prooo duce a base and pedestal which presentane'at T" and attractive appearance andf'p'ossess the requisite mechanical strength whilev also be-k ing much lighter than the baseand, pedestal commonly used in instruments of this char- ,e5 acter. f

A tube 7 Ais secured in a reduced neck 8 atpthe upperk end of base l and slidablyy receives 'a sleeve 9 secured in the lower lend of redestale Asclev .10 Passes thru' Sletsfll 11,00

" necessarily, I provide a cushioning ring 2A ot f oi' pedestal 4 relative to the base is positively* cent the usersmouth. l

extending longitudinally of tube 7 and is threaded thru a nut 12 anchored in the pedestal. This screw also passes thru a block or plug 13 secured in the tube. A rod le is secured in block 1 3 and dependsthereirom,

this rod beingprovi'ded at its lower end with h a leaf a rounded head 15 which contacts wit spring 160i a switch structure 17 secured within base 1. rlhis structure includes resilient strips 18, electrically insulated from cach other and provided with contact points 19 which coact with the strips and with spring 16 for closing the circuit of the instrument when the spring 16 is released.

. The base 1 is provided, at its upper portion, with an annular outwardly extending ilange 20 which is disposed substantially in align- `ment with casing 5 but is arranged at an inclination downwardly away from the pedestal. fl. A transmitter 21 of known construction is mounted within the base and within flange 20 thereof, this transmitter being also disposed at an inclination so as to be arranged in correct position to talk intov the same whenthe receiver' is positioned atrthe ear of the user. `The receiver and the transmitter of the instrument are connected into a circuit which includes thecircuit closing and opening switch 17 ,for which purpose the base -isrprovided with an opening 22 which accom- Qmodates a cable carrying the usual wires or conductors.V This connection or the Yswitch .or circuit controlling means and the receiver f and transmitter is well known in this art and need not be illustrated or described in detail.

' The base'also provides a suitable container orY housing for an induction coil 23 such as is -commonly used in instruments ci this lgeneralcharacter. It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that, when the instrument is in its nor- Vinal condition and rests upon a desk or other Ysupporting structure, the weight of pedestal 4 and the parts carried thereby is transmitted to spring 16 by means of i'od 14: andrhead 15,:thus holding the spring 16 depressed so asto open the switch 17 thus opening the cir-` A*cuit of the instrument.` Preferably, tho not telt or other suitable'material above `the tube 7 the lower end of pedestal A normally resting lupon this ring. lWhen the instrument is re- Fmovedor raised from the desk oruse itis vgrasped yby pedestal 4 so that this pedestal is raised a sufficient distance to release spring 16 permitting `suiiicient Yupward movement of this spring to close Vthe circuit thru the structure ,17,y after which upward movement tube 7 atthe upper ends of slots 11, yafter which the base will be raised with thepedestal so as to position'the receiver V6 at the users ear, the transmitter 21 ybeing disposed adja- *y When the instrument is again replaced 'on the desk, the pedestal 2i "or preferred'form will be moved downwardly by gravity andi the weight of the pedestal and the' parts carried thereby will again returnV the spring 16 to depressed position thus breaking the cir-` cuit of the instrument.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 3, the pedestal 4A is formed integrally with the base 1A and a sleeve 25 is slidably mounted on the pedestal for vertical movement*l vA pin l26 is secured vin this ysleeve andl passes thru slots 27 provided in the pedestal and extending longitudinally thereof. This pin also passes thru an eye 28A at the upper end lof a rod 28, the lower end of which is secured thru the inner end of aleaf spring 16A of the switch structure 17 In this torni,the lspring 16A exerts a downwardpull on rod 28 which, combined with the weight of the sleeve serves to maintain ytheswitch in circuit opening condition. lnusing the instrument the sleeve 25 provides a grip or ,handle which is movedupwardly alongthe pedestal 4A in the' act of raising the instru- Yment thus permitting or causing the spring 16A to be moved into vposition to close the circuit of Athe -instrument thru the switch structure. Vhen the instrument Yis .returned to normal inoperative position with the base resting upon the desk or other supporting structure the spring 16Ais returned vto cir-v cuit opening position rendering ltherinstrument inoperative. Y'In theform illustrated` in Figsi and 5,

the pedestal 30vis provided with a depending n sleeve 31- which tits snugly about a neck 32 extending from base 1. .Y Preferably, though not necessarily, acushioning member?) of felt or 'other suitablejmaterialtis disposed between the lower end lof pedestal BO'and the upper end of neck 32'. A tubell of'metal or other suitable material is secured in neck 32 by being molded therein,v this tube havingl 34A flared. A second tube i through tube Stand houses Vthe wires 36 which are connected atY their lower endsto elements 37 and 38 of thek its-lower portion is slidablyA mounted circuit switch structure'. A- bumper cap,39 is securedon the lower end of tube Bby a-pin 40 or in any othersuitable or preferredkmanf nerfand 1s provided with suitable lopenings Ibutton'412 of hard rubber or any othervsuitiis 41 "accommodatingfthe wires 36. A switch able electricalrinsulating material is secured in the cap k3 9 `and bears uponvthe inner'p'or-I Ltion of 'switch ymember 37" normally holding fthe switch open. n When thefinstrument is "raised forjuse by grasping the pedestal 3G',

.the cap 39 is raised relative lto switch 'member 30 thus permitting closing ofthe switch and .rendering thevinstrument active in the man- ,ner previously described. It will be noted .that theV tubes 34 and 35 are einen-circular cross. section, theseftub'es being illustratedV as fof: squareV Vcross, section, or anyY othersuitab'le Y of tube' other' than circular 1"3@ incassa ing the tubes of non-circular cross section,

p thepede'stal and the base are held against relative turning movement insuring that the receiver r'and transmitter are held in proper alignment as previously described. It will also be noted thatthese tubes provide ,a loose sliding. connection between the two sections of the supporting structure while preventing excessive looseness or play in the connections.

In instrumentsy ot this general type in which the receiverv and the transmitter are mounted in a supporting structure which is rigid and continuous, ditliculty is frequently experienced in that howling is caused due to yvibrations transmitted through the receivingstructure to the transmitter from the receiver or vice versa. An important feature of my invention-is the loose connection between the section of the support-ing structure which supports thereceiver and the section which carries' the transmitter. This loose connection serves to elfectually prevent any Aappreciable acoustic continuity between thel receiver andthe transmitter eliminating the diliiculty referred to resulting from trans` ference of vibrations through the supporting l structure. Under ordinary conditions, the

4 provides an amply sufficient interruption'or loose connection between the pedestal and' the base is vsufficient to prevent howling and 'discontinuation ot acoustic connection between the section carrying the receiver and fthe section carrying the transmitter.I As a further precaution, however, in the form iliustrated in Fig. 4, I provide a cushion memyia v` land Fig. 6, I have shown the tube 34 as provided 'with a lining 44 of felt or other suitable ber 43 in the form of ay felt ring at the top ot the bumper cap 39. When the instrument is in use, this ring Vbears against the flared lower portion 34A of tube 34 and, due to its cushioning properties very eiiectually eliminates'vibration of the base or tube 84 due to vibrations transmitted from the receiver vice versa. In the form illustrated in material. This feltr lining, in conjunction with the felt washer 33 and the feltpacking member 43, serves tocompletely cushion the connection between the pedestal and the neck ofthe base, thus very ettectually preventing any acoustic continuitybetween the receiver Vand the transmitter so as to ett'ectuallyeliminate-Tall possibility of vibration of the receiver being transmitted to the transmitter y or vice versa. This form of the linstrument V"is very eiiicient and ettectually eliminates n scribed, ,ay supporting structureincluding a all tendency to howl. Under ordinary condil tions, such thorough cushioning of the conv nections between the two sections ot the supporting structure is not necessary.

What I claim is T L a 1.1In an instrumenty ot the character debase" and a pedestal connectedto the base for vertical movement relative thereto, a receiver by the base, and means actuated by movement of the pedestal for closing the switch 'when the pedestal is raised in the act ot grasp- /ing the same and raising' the instrument and opening the switch whenl the pedestal is low- 'ered intol normal position by the act otreytu'i'ningthe instrument to rest upon a desk or other support.

r2. In an instrument ot thel character described, a base, a pedestal connected to the base for vertical movement relative thereto, a receiver carried bythe pedestal, a transmitter carried by the base, a switch for controlling the receiver and transmitter circuit carried by the base, said switch including a spring and circuit closing members actuated thereby, and means, connected to the pedestal and acting to hold the spring in inoperative position when the pedestal is in lowered position relativeto 'the base, thc spring being moved into operative position when the pedestal is raised relative to the base.

3. In an instrument ot the character described, a base, a pedestal connected to the base for vertical movement relative thereto,

means for limiting movement ot' the pedestal in'either direction, a. receiver carried by the pedestal, a transmitter carried by the base, a switch for controlling the receiver and transmitter circuits carried by the base, the switch including' a spring and members actuated thereby for closing the circuit, said members being in open position 'when the spring is depressed, and a member connected to the pedestal for movement therewith and normally bearing on the spring to hold 'the same depressed, said member beingl raised into inoperative position to release the spring when the pedestal is raised relative to the base.

4. In an instrument of the character described, a supporting structure and a base, a receiver carried by the supporting structure, a transmitter carried by the base, a tubular member extending from the base, a sleeve-like portion ott said supporting structure slidably mounted on the tubular member and having limited vertical movement thereon, a. swi'tch for controlling the transmitter and receiver circuit mounted in the base, said switch including contacts moved into operative relation when the base and structure are moved to one limit of their relative motion, and moved into inoperative relation when the baseand structure are at the other limit ot their relative motion, and av connection between the switch and said supporting structure tor controlling said switch by the relative movement of the supporting structure and base. f

5. In an instrument of the character described, a supporting structure including two relatively movable sections-and cushioning connections disposeclvbetween and acting in the direction ofrelative Inovementjbetween said sections, a receiver carried by one section, and a transmitter carried by the other renclerngthe receiver and transmitter cir-1 cuit active and inactive.

In vWitness whereof, I hereunto subscribe mynametllis'lOth clay of August, 1926.

- `GrRRISOl BABCQCK, 

